Corinthians took a crucial lead in the Copa do Brasil round of 16 chase with a narrow 1-0 victory over Barra SC in the first leg of their fifth-round matchup, played at Estádio Aderbal Ramos da Silva, commonly known as Ressacada, in Florianópolis on April 21, 2026. The lone goal came from English midfielder Jesse Lingard, marking his first goal since joining the Brazilian club and giving Corinthians a valuable advantage ahead of the return leg at Neo Química Arena in São Paulo.
The match began with Barra showing early energy, creating the first chance in the fourth minute when Henrique fired a shot from outside the box that narrowly missed the post of Corinthians goalkeeper Kauê. Corinthians responded with pressure of their own, as Vitinho hit the crossbar shortly after, though the play was halted for an alleged foul by Pedro Raul in the buildup.
For much of the first half, Corinthians struggled to break down Barra’s organized defensive block despite enjoying greater possession. Barra remained dangerous on the counter, with Fábio testing Kauê from distance before the ball was deflected to the Corinthians keeper. As the half appeared headed for a goalless intermission, Corinthians found the breakthrough in the 47th minute.
Matheus Pereira delivered a free kick from the left flank, which struck the wall and fell to Pedro Raul. The Corinthians forward nodded the ball into Lingard’s path, and the former Manchester United midfielder struck a first-time shot past Ewerton in the Barra goal. The goal initially faced review for a possible handball in the buildup, but after a five-minute VAR check, it was confirmed as valid, sending the Corinthians bench into celebration.
The second half saw Corinthians continue to push for a second goal. Vitinho came close again in the 10th minute with a curling effort that Ewerton tipped onto the post with outstretched fingers. Barra, however, failed to replicate their first-half threat after the interval, struggling to create clear chances as Corinthians controlled the tempo.
Barra threw men forward in the closing stages, and almost earned a late equalizer in stoppage time when Saymon broke through on the left and fired a shot that Kauê managed to smother. Despite the late pressure, Corinthians held on to secure the 1-0 victory.
The win was not without concern for Corinthians, as they suffered an injury blow early in the match. Forward Kayke went down in pain after just 12 minutes, clutching his left knee following a crossing attempt. He was visibly upset as he left the field and was later taken to the locker room for further evaluation. The club confirmed he would undergo medical exams upon return to São Paulo to determine the extent of the damage.
Lingard, who started the match and played 62 minutes before being substituted for Zakaria Labyad, celebrated not only the team’s victory but as well his personal milestone of scoring his first goal for the Corinthians shirt. His performance was widely noted as a turning point in his early tenure with the club, having previously struggled to find the net in his first six appearances.
The result gives Corinthians a significant advantage heading into the second leg. With the away goals rule not applied in this edition of the Copa do Brasil, Corinthians can advance with a win or even a draw in the return match. Barra, conversely, must win by at least two goals to progress outright; a one-goal victory would force a penalty shootout.
The second leg is scheduled for May 14, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. Brasília time (22:30 UTC) at Neo Química Arena in São Paulo. Before that fixture, Corinthians have other important matches on the horizon, including a Brasileirão clash against Vasco da Gama on April 26 and a Copa Libertadores encounter with Peñarol on April 30, both at home.
For Barra, the focus now shifts to regrouping and preparing for a daunting task at one of Brazil’s most intimidating venues. The club will require to overcome both the deficit and the historical difficulty of scoring multiple goals against Corinthians in São Paulo to keep their Copa do Brasil hopes alive.
As the first leg concludes, Corinthians head into the break with momentum and a slender but meaningful lead. The return leg at Neo Química Arena will determine whether they can convert this advantage into a place in the quarterfinals, or whether Barra can produce a historic comeback to deny them progression.
What do you consider about Corinthians’ performance and Lingard’s breakthrough goal? Share your thoughts in the comments below and join the conversation.
Keep reading
